Governments and private organizations have developed CAR
CLASSIFICATION schemes that are used for innumerable purposes
including regulation, description and categorization, among others.
This article details commonly used classification schemes in use
worldwide.

Vehicles can be categorized in numerous ways. For example, by means
of the body style and the "level of commonality in vehicle
construction as defined by number of doors and roof treatment (e.g.,
sedan, convertible, fastback, hatchback) and number of seats" that
require seat belts to meet safety regulations.

Regulatory agencies may also establish a vehicle classification
system for determining a tax amount. In the United Kingdom, a vehicle
is taxed according to the vehicle's construction, engine, weight, type
of fuel and emissions, as well as the purpose for which it is used.
Other jurisdictions may determine vehicle tax based upon environmental
principles, such as the user pays principle. In another example,
certain cities in the United States in the 1920s chose to exempt
electric-powered vehicles because officials believed those vehicles
did not cause "substantial wear upon the pavements."

Another standard for road vehicles of all types that is used
internationally (except for Australia, India, and the U.S.), is ISO
3833-1977.

In an example from private enterprise, many car rental companies use
the
ACRISS Car Classification Code to describe the size, type and
equipment of vehicles to ensure that rental agents can match customer
needs to available vehicles, regardless of distance between the agent
and the rental company or the languages spoken by either party. In the
United States, since 2010 the Insurance Institute for
HighwayHighway Safety
uses a scheme it has developed that takes into account a combination
of both vehicle shadow (length times width) and weight.

US HIGHWAY LOSS DATA INSTITUTE CLASSIFICATION
DEFINITION

Regular Two Door
Two door sedans and hatchbacks

Regular Four Door
Four door sedans and hatchbacks

Station Wagons
Four doors, a rear hatch and four pillars

Minivans
Vans with sliding rear doors

Sports
Two seaters and cars with significant high performance features

Luxury
Relatively expensive cars that are not classified as sports (price
in USD to curb weight in pounds more than 9.0 in 2010) (small cars
over $27,000, midsize cars over $31,500, large cars over $36,000,
etc.)

The United States National
HighwayHighway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) separates vehicles into classes by the curb weight of the
vehicle with standard equipment including the maximum capacity of
fuel, oil, coolant, and air conditioning , if so equipped.

US NHTSA CLASSIFICATION
CODE
CURB WEIGHT

Passenger cars: mini
PC/Mi
1,500 to 1,999 lb (700–900 kg)

Passenger cars: light
PC/L
2,000 to 2,499 lb (900–1,150 kg)

Passenger cars: compact
PC/C
2,500 to 2,999 lb (1,150–1,350 kg)

Passenger cars: medium
PC/Me
3,000 to 3,499 lb (1,350–1,600 kg)

Passenger cars: heavy
PC/H
3,500 lb (1,600 kg) and over

Sport utility vehicles
SUV
–

Pickup trucks
PU
–

Vans
VAN
–

The United States
Federal Highway AdministrationFederal Highway Administration has developed a
classification scheme used for automatically calculating road use
tolls . There are two broad categories depending on whether the
vehicle carries passengers or commodities. Vehicles that carry
commodities are further subdivided by number of axles and number of
units, including both power and trailer units.

A similar set of classes is used by the Canadian EPA. The Canadian
National Collision Database (NCDB) system defines "passenger car" as a
unique class, but also identifies two other categories involving
passenger vehicles—the "passenger van" and "light utility
vehicle"—and these categories are inconsistently handled across the
country with the boundaries between the vehicles increasingly blurred.

In Australia, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries publishes
its own classifications.

SIZE AND USAGE-BASED VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS WORLDWIDE

This is a summary table listing several different methods of vehicle
classification.

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Straddling the boundary between car and motorbike, these vehicles
have engines under 1.0 litre, typically seat only two passengers, and
are sometimes unorthodox in construction. Some microcars are
three-wheelers, while the majority have four wheels. Microcars were
popular in post-war Europe, where their appearance led them to be
called "Bubble cars ". More recent microcars are often electric
powered.

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In 2012, Japan's Transport and
TourismTourism Ministry allowed local
government to use ultracompact cars as transport for residents and
tourists in their limiting areas. The size of ultracompact cars will
be less than minicars, but have engine greater than 50cc displacement
and able to transport 1 or 2 persons. Ultracompact cars cannot use
minicars standard, because of strict safety standards for minicars.
The regulation about running capacity and safety performance of
ultracompact cars will be published in early autumn. Today, there are
cars smaller than ultracompact cars, called category-1 motorized
vehicles which it has 50cc displacement or less and only one seat for
the driver.

A city car is a small automobile intended for use in urban areas.
Unlike microcars, a city car's greater speed, capacity and (in
perception at least) occupant protection are safer in mixed traffic
environments and weather conditions. While city cars can reach highway
speeds, that is not their intended use. In Japan, city cars are called
kei cars . Kei cars have to meet strict size and engine requirements:
engines have a maximum displacement of 660 cc and the car's length
must be under 3400 mm.

This class is known as supermini in the UK, subcompact in North
America. Superminis have three, four or five doors, and even as an
estate shape. They are designed to seat four passengers comfortably.
Current supermini hatchbacks are approximately 3900 mm long, while
saloons and estate cars are around 4200 mm long. Currently (2013)
sedan variants are generally not available in Europe and are marketed
at a lower price than hatchback models in North America.

In Europe, the first superminis were the
Fiat 500Fiat 500 of 1957 and the
Austin
MiniMini of 1959. Superminis can be premium cars, such as the
Citroën DS3 , named 2010
CarCar of the Year by
Top Gear Magazine .
Superminis are some of the best selling vehicles in Europe with 25% of
the market shares (2013). In 2007, the
Peugeot 207 has been the most
sold car in Europe, whereas the best seller is almost systematically a
car from the _compact_ segment.

In Australia, the motoring press tends to distinguish between a LIGHT
CAR such as the
Daihatsu Charade or early models of the Holden Barina
, and slightly larger models such as the
Ford FiestaFord Fiesta which is
considered to be a SMALL CAR. As the general size of vehicles in this
class has gradually increased, the category of LIGHT CAR has almost
disappeared.

Small family/compact cars refer to the hatchbacks and shortest
saloons and estate cars with similar size. They are approximately
4,250 mm (167 in) long in case of hatchbacks and 4,500 mm (177 in) in
the case of saloons and estate cars. Compact cars have room for five
adults and usually have engines between 1.4 and 2.2 litres, but some
have engines of up to 2.5 litres. Some early "muscle" compacts had
optional V8 engines of up to 6.6 liters. These are the most popular
vehicles in most developed countries.

A class described as "large family" in Europe and "mid-size" in the
USA, these cars have room for five adults and a large trunk (boot).
Engines are more powerful than small family/compact cars and
six-cylinder engines are more common than in smaller cars.
CarCar sizes
vary from region to region; in Europe, large family cars are rarely
over 4,700 mm (15.4 ft) long, while in North America, Middle East and
AustralasiaAustralasia they may be well over 4,800 mm (15.7 ft).

Crossover SUVs are derived from an automobile platform using a
monocoque construction with light off-road capability and lower ground
clearance than SUVs. They may be styled similar to conventional
"off-roaders", or may be look similar to an estate car or station
wagon .

Also known as "people carriers", this class of cars resembles tall
estate cars. Larger MPVs may have seating for up to eight passengers.
(Beyond that size, similar vehicles tend to be derived from vans (see
below) and in Europe are called minibuses .)

Being taller than a family car improves visibility for the driver
(while reducing visibility for other road users) and may help access
for the elderly or disabled . They also offer more seats and increased
load capacity than hatchbacks or estate cars.

Also known as full-size luxury cars, grand saloons, or premium large
cars, while "Oberklasse" is used in Germany. Typically a four-door
saloon (sedan). These are the most powerful saloons, with six, eight
and twelve-cylinder engines and have more equipment than smaller
models. Vehicles in this category include some of the models from the
flagship lines of luxury car brands, such as Cadillac CT6, Lincoln
Town
CarCar and Maserati Quattroporte.

A STATION WAGON (also known as an ESTATE or ESTATE CAR) is an
automobile with a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof
extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at
the back via a third or fifth door (the liftgate or tailgate ),
instead of a trunk lid. The body style transforms a standard three-box
design into a two-box design—to include an A, B, and C-pillar , as
well as a D-pillar. Station wagons can flexibly reconfigure their
interior volume via fold-down rear seats to prioritize either
passenger or cargo volume.

A HOT HATCH is a high-performance hatchback, based on standard
superminis or small family cars with improved performance, handling
and styling. Hot hatches are very popular in Europe, where hatchbacks
are by far the most common body style for this size of car. In North
America, sport compacts are usually sold as saloons or coupés rather
than hatchbacks.

The term "sports car" does not appear to have a clear definition. It
is commonly used to describe vehicles which prioritise acceleration
and handling; however, some people claim it is also defined as a
vehicle with two seats.
A SPORTS CAR (sportscar or sport car) is a small, usually two-seat,
two-door automobile designed for spirited performance and nimble
handling. Sports cars may be spartan or luxurious but high
maneuverability and minimum weight are requisite.

Larger, more powerful and heavier than sports cars, these vehicles
typically have a
FR layoutFR layout and seating for four passengers (2+2 ).
These are more expensive than sports cars but not as expensive as
supercars. Grand Tourers encompass both luxury and high-performance.
Some grand tourers are hand-built.

SupercarSupercar is a term generally used for ultra-high-end exotic cars,
whose performance is superior to that of its contemporaries. The
proper application of the term is subjective and disputed, especially
among enthusiasts.

The MUSCLE CAR term generally refers to rear wheel drive mid-size
cars with powerful V8 engines , typically manufactured in the U.S.
Some definitions limit it to two-door vehicles; however, others
include four-door body style versions. Although opinions vary, it is
generally accepted that classic muscle cars were produced in the late
1960s and early 1970s. Muscle cars were also produced in
Australia, New Zealand,
South AfricaSouth Africa and other nations.

The pony car is a class of American
Muscle carMuscle car automobile launched
and inspired by the
Ford MustangFord Mustang in 1964. It describes an affordable,
compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented
image.

A body design that features a flexibly operating roof for open or
enclosed mode driving. Also known as a CABRIOLET or ROADSTER (if a
2-seater). Historically, convertibles used folding roof structures
with fabric or other flexible materials. Some designs have roofs made
of metal or other stiff materials that retract into the body.

Off-road vehicles, or "off-roaders" are sometimes referred to as
"four-wheel drives ", "four by fours", or 4x4s — this can happen
colloquially in cases where certain models or even an entire range
does not possess four-wheel drive .

Sport utility vehicles are off-road vehicles with four-wheel drive
and true off-road capability. They most often feature high ground
clearance and an upright, boxy body design. Sport Utilities are
typically defined by a body on frame construction which offers more
off-road capability but reduced on-road ride comfort and handling
compared to a cross-over or car based utility vehicle.

In some countries, the term "van" can refer to a small _panel van_
based on a passenger car design (often the estate model / station
wagon); it also refers to light trucks, which themselves are sometimes
based on SUVs or MPVs. (But note that those retaining seats and
windows, while being larger and more utilitarian than MPVs, may be
called "minibuses ".) The term is also used in the term "camper van"
(or just "camper") — equivalent to a North American recreational
vehicle (RV).

In the United States, the term "van" refers to vehicles that, like
European minibuses, are even larger than large MPVs and are rarely
seen being driven for domestic purposes — except for "conversion
vans". These possess extremely large interior space and are often more
intended for hauling cargo than people. Most vans use body-on-frame
construction and are thus suitable for extensive modification and
coachwork, known as conversion. Conversion vans are often quite
luxurious, boasting comfortable seats, soft rides, built-in support
for electronics such as television sets, and other amenities. The more
elaborate conversion vans straddle the line between cars and
recreational vehicles.

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Bakkie A generic South African term for light pickup truck.
Baquet refers to cars made in the early 1900s in Europe. Baquet means
bath tub. These cars had two rows of raised seats similar to
horse-drawn carriages. Baquets usually did not have front doors, a
top, or windshield. Buggy A Buggy is an automobile with wheels
that project beyond the vehicle body.
Cabrio coachCabrio coach Normally a
two-door body design with special form of car roof, where a
retractable textile cover amounts to a large sunroof .
CoupéCoupé A
2-door, 2- or 4-seat car with a fixed roof. Its doors are often longer
than those of an equivalent sedan and the rear passenger area smaller;
the roof may also be low. In cases where the rear seats are very small
and not intended for regular use it is called a 2+2 (pronounced _"two
plus two"_). Originally, a coupé was required to have only one side
window per side, but this consideration has not been used for many
years. Combi
CoupéCoupé A 2-door, 4-seat car with hatchback door at
rear and, collapsible rear seats, resembling a fastback . The idea is
to maximize the carrying capacity without bargaining on the
performance.
CoupéCoupé utility A passenger-car derived vehicle with an
integral exterior cargo area. Crossover (or CUV) A loose marketing
term to describe a vehicle that blends features of a
SUVSUV with features
of a car — especially forgoing the body on frame construction of the
SUVSUV in favor of the car's unibody or monocoque construction.
Crossovers usually borrow drivetrains and other parts from traditional
cars in the same manufacturer's line. Crossovers typically employ an
FF layout or an FF-based four-wheel drive layout with a transverse
engine , rather than an
FR layoutFR layout or an FR-based 4WD layout with a
longitudinal engine as is typically used on traditional truck-based
SUVs. Drop Head Coupe Generally a European term referring to a
2-door, 4 place automobile with a retractable canvas / cloth top with
_both_ a padded headliner and rollup windows (as opposed to side
curtains). Estate British name for a _station wagon_.
FastbackFastback A
design where the roof slopes at a smooth angle to the tail of the car,
but the rear window does not open as a separate "door". Flower Car
in US, similar to ute in Australia, i.e. generic for Chevy El Camino,
Ford Ranchero, GMC Sprint/Diablo, etc.
HatchbackHatchback Incorporates a
shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a
rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate —and
features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the
shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box design , the body style
typically includes A, B and C-pillars , and may include a D-pillar .
HardtopHardtop Originally a removable solid roof on a _convertible_; later,
also a fixed-roof car whose doors have no fixed window frames, which
is designed to resemble such a convertible.
HearseHearse A converted car
(often a station wagon), light truck or minivan usually used to
transport the dead. Often longer and heavier than the vehicle on which
they are usually based. Can sometimes double up as an ambulance in
some countries, such as the United States, especially in rural areas.
KammbackKammback Originally, a car with a tapered rear that cuts off
abruptly.
LandauletLandaulet A limousine with the passenger section covered
by a convertible top.
Leisure activity vehicleLeisure activity vehicle A small van ,
generally related to a supermini , with a second or even a third seat
row, and a large, tall boot .
LiftbackLiftback A broad marketing term for a
hatchback, which incorporates a shared passenger and cargo volume,
with rearmost accessibility via a top-hinged liftgate .
LimousineLimousine
By definition, a chauffeur -driven car with a (normally
glass-windowed) division between the front seats and the rear. In
German, the term simply means a sedan .
MicrovanMicrovan Term for a boxy
wagon-type of car that is smaller than a conventional minivan; often
without rear sliding door(s). Examples are Citroën Picasso , Renault
Scénic ,
Toyota Yaris Verso or
Mercedes-Benz A-Class . In Japan, this
term is used for
Kei carKei car based vans.
MinibusMinibus Designed to carry
fewer people than a full-size bus, generally up to 16 people in
multiple rows of seats. Passenger access in normally via a sliding
door on one side of the vehicle. One example of a van with a minibus
version available is the Ford Transit. MPV Multi-purpose vehicle, a
large car or small bus designed to be used on and off-road and easily
convertible to facilitate loading of goods from facilitating carrying
people.
NotchbackNotchback A configuration where the third box of a
three-box styling configuration is less pronounced — especially
where the rear deck (third box) is short or where the rear window is
upright.
People carrier or people mover European name to describe
what is usually referred to in
North AmericaNorth America as a
MinivanMinivan . Phaeton
A Phaeton is a style of open car or carriage without proper weather
protection for passengers.
Pickup truckPickup truck (or _pickup_) A light-duty,
open-bed truck. Pillarless Usually a prefix to _coupé_, _fastback_,
or _hardtop_; completely open at the sides when the windows are down,
without a central pillar , e.g. the Sunbeam Rapier fastback coupé.
Ragtop Originally an open car like a _roadster_, but with a soft top
(cloth top) that can be raised or lowered. Unlike a convertible , it
had no roll-up side windows. Now often used as slang for a
convertible. Retractable
HardtopHardtop aka
CoupéCoupé convertible or Coupé
Cabriolet. A type of convertible forgoing a foldable textile roof in
favor of a multi-segment rigid roof retracts into the lower bodywork.
Roadster Originally a two-seat open car with minimal weather
protection — without top or side glass — though possibly with
optional hard or soft top and side curtains (i.e., without roll-up
glass windows). In modern usage, the term means simply a two-seat
sports car _convertible_, a variation of _spyder_. Sedan A car
seating four or more with a fixed roof that is full-height up to the
rear window. Known in
British EnglishBritish English as a saloon. Sedans can have 2
or 4-doors. This is the most common body style. In the U.S., this term
has been used to denote a car with fixed window frames, as opposed to
the _hardtop_ style wherein the sash, if any, winds down with the
glass.
Sedan deliverySedan delivery North American term for a vehicle similar to
a _wagon_ but without side windows, similar to a panel truck but with
two doors (one on each side), and one or two rear doors Sport
utility vehicle (SUV) Derivative of a pickup truck or 4-wheel-drive
vehicle, but with fully enclosed passenger cabin interior and carlike
levels of interior equipment. Spyder (or Spider) Similar to a
_roadster_ but originally with less weather protection.Nowadays it
simply means a convertible with two seater only. The name comes from
the old carriages with two seats and no roof, whose small central
cabin and big wheels at the corners are reminiscent of a spider.
Shooting-brakeShooting-brake Initially a vehicle used to carry shooting parties
with their equipment and game ; later used to describe custom-built
wagons by high-end coachbuilders, subsequently synonymous with
_station wagon _ or _estate _; and in contemporary usage a three or
five-door wagons combining features of a wagon and a coupé .
Station wagonStation wagon A variant of a sedan /saloon , (also known as estate or
estate car) or with its roof extended rearward over a shared
passenger/cargo volume; access at the back via a third or fifth door
instead of a trunk lid; flexible configurations to vary passenger or
cargo volume; and two or three rows of seating — in a two-box design
with a A, B as opposed to a pickup whose cargo tray is not integrated
with the passenger body. Wagon delivery North American term (mainly
U.S. and Canada). Similar to a _sedan delivery_, with four doors.
VanVan In
North AmericaNorth America "van" refers to a truck-based commercial vehicle
of the wagon style, whether used for passenger or commercial use.
Usually a van has no windows at the side rear (panel van), although
for passenger use, side windows are included. In other parts of the
world, 'van' denotes a passenger-based wagon with no rear side
windows.

NON-ENGLISH TERMS

Some non-
English languageEnglish language terms are familiar from their use on
imported vehicles in English-speaking nations even though the terms
have not been adopted into English.
BarchettaBarchetta Italian term for a
roadster with no roof. The name, roughly "small boat", comes from an
exclamation when the Ferrari 166MM Touring was shown. Berlina Italian
term for a sedan . Berline French term for a sedan .
BerlinettaBerlinetta
Italian term for a sport coupé . Break French term for a station
wagon . Camioneta
Brazilian PortugueseBrazilian Portuguese term for a station wagon
(specially in the state of Rio de Janeiro). Spanish term also used in
Argentina and Uruguay. Carrinha Portuguese term for a station wagon .
Not used in
Brazilian PortugueseBrazilian Portuguese .
EspadaEspada Portuguese nickname for a
limousine (the same word for _Sword_ – long piece of metal). Not
used in
Brazilian PortugueseBrazilian Portuguese . Furgoneta Spanish and Polish term for
a van , in the latter language almost always used in its diminutive
form _furgonetka_. Furgão Portuguese alternative term (less used)
for a van . Used in
Brazilian PortugueseBrazilian Portuguese , most often for vans but
sometimes for panel van variants of passenger cars. Kombi is a German
abbreviation of "Kombinationswagen" (Combination Car) and it is German
name for station wagon . Since
GermanyGermany is a major producer of cars for
many European countries, the term Kombi in this meaning is also used
in Swedish , Czech , Slovak , Polish , Slovenian , Serbian , Bosnian ,
Croatian , Hungarian , Spanish , Portuguese , Bulgarian . In Afrikaans
and in Australia, Kombi is also used to refer to a Volkswagen Microbus
. In Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay the word specifically refers to the
VW Microbus. Perua
Brazilian PortugueseBrazilian Portuguese term either designating a van
(especially as spoken in the city of São Paulo) or a station wagon
(in the city of Rio de Janeiro). Turismo Spanish term for a sedan .
Literally means tourism , used mostly in Latin American countries and
Spain. Ijapa Yoruba term for a two door car . Literally modeled after
a
TortoiseTortoise animal . Also refers to
Volkswagen BeetleVolkswagen Beetle . Vagoneta
Bolivian Spanish Colloquial term for a station wagon (with o without
SUVSUV capabilities).